A self-proclaimed non-conformist, Khalid Abdulla Janahi, is known for his willingness to tackle controversial topics and his incisive analysis on a diverse range of subjects.
Recounting his years as a Bahraini public speaker, financier, global strategy expert, world traveller, and philanthropist, From Rulership to Leadership in the Arab World: The Brief Memoir of a Non-Conformist takes us on the journey of a man from his childhood home in the small island of Bahrain, to his formative years as a student and professional in England, to his adulthood as a business leader, influencer and family man.
A movie-buff, Mr Janahi uses movie titles and quotes to illustrate his own life experiences and to make his points in a more engaging and memorable way, revealing the lessons he accumulated on leadership by observing and questioning the status quo.
More than a memoir, the book is a leadership guide that explores the difference between rulership and leadership, and how to move from one to the other.
Early on he observed the difference between the rulers and leaders in his community, describing rulers as those who exercise power over others, while leaders are those who inspire and empower others.
He then goes on to discuss his own experiences as a student, professional and business leader, sharing his insights on what makes a good leader, and how to develop leadership skills.
Concluding with a call for more leadership in the world, the book’s key observation is that there is an excess of rulership while leadership is almost always in deficit.
Mr Janahi explores how we can move from one to the other, which examples can we rely on in every sphere of our lives and how transformative more leadership would be.
He believes that if we want to create a better world, we need more people who are willing to lead, not just rule.
One of the biggest concerns expressed by the author in the book is the future of young people in the Arab world.
“Our region has one of the youngest populations in the world, with the majority under the age of 25,” he writes. “The future of these youth will be compromised and their opportunities limited, and these realities appear unavoidable given the lack of action on unemployment from the region’s regimes. Conflict, climate change, unemployment, corruption, nepotism, and a lack of unity are depriving the region of all its young people have to offer.”
The book has its origin in the author’s encounter with Gamal Mubarak, son of Hosni Mubarak, then-president of Egypt, at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2005.
Mr Janahi was disappointed by Gamal’s speech, which he saw as nothing more than a defence of his father’s accomplishments.
In his own speech, the author challenged Gamal to provide a roadmap for the future of the Arab world, calling for leaders rather than rulers.
After the speech, Richard Gere approached the author and encouraged him to pursue this important question.
Not fond of labels as he finds them restrictive, the author says that the one epithet he is proud of is “non-conformist’ as he believes that it is important to speak your mind and acknowledge reasonable ideas, regardless of who or what group introduces them.
Mr Janahi also believes that it is important to maintain an honest, critical mindset rather than wasting time and energy adhering to propaganda or false ideology.
“If we want to make the Middle East a better place, we all need to walk the talk. This means being honest and responsible, and thinking for ourselves. We also need to be kind and compassionate to others. If we all do these things, we can build a better future for our region,” he said quoting from the book.
The memoir was launched last week at the Shaikh Ebrahim Centre for Culture and Research under the patronage of the centre’s chairperson Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa.
More than 200 attendees including former ministers, government officials, business and community leaders received signed copies of the book for free.
They were invited to make a donation in aid of the Palestinian people instead.
Published by US-based Archway Publishing, the paperback version of the book is available for $15.71 on Amazon, whereas the e-book costs $2.99 on Kindle.
avinash@gdnmedia.bh
About the author...
A co-founder of the Maryam Forum Foundation, an initiative focused on developing transformative leadership, Mr Janahi is also a venture capitalist and adviser to policy institutes and public institutions.
He is a frequent contributor to opinion pages and participates in televised debates. Born in Bahrain, Mr Janahi studied at the American University of Beirut and the University of Manchester.
He worked as a chartered accountant at PriceWaterhouse and was the CEO of Dar Al-Maal Al-lslami Trust. He has also held leadership and board positions in financial institutions in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
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